Nightingale Star Nurse Award Winners Announced

Nurses Across the Inova Health System Honored as Star Nurse 2021 Finalists and Excellence in Nursing Awards

The month of May has been dedicated to celebrating nurses, and Inova is proud to share that several nurses from across the system have been recognized for excellence in nursing. Last night, Erin Reynolds, RN, of Inova Fairfax Medical Campus and Kenneth Daniel, BS, BSN, RN, of Inova Alexandria Hospital were honored with the 2021 Nightingale Award which recognizes registered nurses in the Washington, DC area for excellence in their field. The six winners, who were nominated by patients and peers and selected by the American Nurses Association (ANA) and a panel of fellow RNs, were recognized for their achievements across a range of criteria including compassion and positive community impact during the Star Nurses 2021 Awards Program.

The second annual Star Nurses 2021 Awards Program is co-sponsored by The Washington Post and the ANA. Star Nurses was established to recognize nurses from Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC who have gone above and beyond to make a difference in their organization, the lives of their patients, or their community. Hundreds of nurses were nominated and 65 were named as finalists, 15 of whom are Inova team members. In addition to Erin and Kenneth, the 13 other Inova nurses who were named Star Nurse 2021 Finalists are:

• Abigail Ballard, Inova Fairfax Medical Campus
• Stephanie Garofalo, Inova Heart & Vascular Institute
• Kathleen Hallivis, Inova Wound Healing Center – Fairfax
• Heather Hanes, Inova Schar Cancer Institute – Fair Oaks
• Kim Klein, Inova Ashburn Healthplex
• Mary Ann Patricio, Inova Fairfax Medical Campus
• Jacquelyn Patton, Inova Fairfax Medical Campus
• Maria Rafalco, Inova Fairfax Medical Campus
• Heather Robinson, Inova Fairfax Medical Campus
• Rabelle Siddiki, Inova Loudoun Hospital
• Helen Stevens, Inova Lorton Healthplex
• Donna Thomas, Inova Mount Vernon Hospital
• Rosslyn Wooden, Inova Lorton Healthplex

In addition to the Star Nurses program, Inova also celebrates the nurses honored by the Excellence in Nursing Awards. Inspired by the nurses serving on the frontlines of the pandemic every day, the Excellence in Nursing Awards was created by Washingtonian Magazine to honor their efforts to go above and beyond for their patients and colleagues. Nominations were accepted from physicians, hospitals, colleagues, and patients. The six Inova nurses are included in a group of 50 exceptional nurses selected from hundreds of nominations. The Inova employees who have been named 2021 Exceptional Nurses are:

• Minna Manalo Bacarra, Inova Schar Cancer Institute
• Laila Bailey, Inova Fairfax Hospital
• Susan Frank, Inova Schar Cancer Institute
• Ellen Katz, Inova Fairfax Family Practice
• Ruth Sullivan, Inova Schar Cancer Institute
• Michelle Vassallo, Inova Health System

“I could not be prouder of our amazing nurses,” said Maureen Sintich, DNP, MBA, RN, WHNP-BC, NEA-BC, Chief Nurse Executive, Inova. “They have gone above and beyond the call of duty, utilizing their skills, professionalism, compassion and expertise to ensure all patients receive world-class healthcare. Every day, they come prepared to positively impact every person and every community they serve. I am honored to work beside them.”